Welcome to Brandenburg Labs

Shaping the future of audio technology

At Brandenburg Labs, we strive to create cutting-edge audio technology that is inspired by how we listen to the world. We make immersive audio for headphones as intuitive as real life, enabling everyone to dive deep into any soundscape.

Therefore, we have developed the perfect lifelike audio experience over headphones. Our technology simulates how sound propagates in the real world, making it indistinguishable from reality. 

Together with our partners, we are working towards achieving a perfect auditory illusion, especially via headphones.

As a spin-off of Technische Universität Ilmenau and the Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology, Brandenburg Labs builds on decades of audio research and the expertise of our founder, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Karlheinz Brandenburg, best known as co-inventor of mp3.

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Okeanos Pro – Our solution for audio professionals

Experience Multichannel Sound Over Headphones Like Never Before!

Okeanos Pro is Brandenburg Labs' first state-of-the-art headphone-based system, powered by our groundbreaking Deep Dive Audio (DDA) technology. Designed for audio professionals and institutions that demand precision and flexibility, it’s the ideal solution for research and innovation labs, audio engineers and producers, as well as universities and training programs focused on spatial audio. By simulating advanced multichannel loudspeaker setups through headphones, Okeanos Pro enables users to reduce costs, save space, and still enjoy full immersion, even in environments where physical loudspeaker setups are impractical. With its seamless pick-up-and-play usability, and high-fidelity, realistic sound reproduction, it delivers studio-grade performance without the complexity or cost of traditional hardware.
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Where to meet us next

We are continuously updating our event schedule here, more events for 2025 soon to be announced.

Ilmenau Science Night, Ilmenau, Germany, 20. June 2026

Brandenburg Labs is delighted to participate in the TU Ilmenau Science Night, hosted by TU Ilmenau, a unique event combining science, technology, and culture. The evening will feature experimental lectures, laboratory tours, and interactive hands-on activities, offering visitors the opportunity to engage directly with scientists, researchers, and innovative companies. Attendees can explore cutting-edge research and gain insights into the strong scientific and industrial landscape of Thuringia. 

At our booth, visitors will be invited to experience a live demonstration of our immersive audio technology and learn more about the fundamental research behind our work. Further details will be announced closer to the event. Stay tuned. 

Testimonials

"For four years now, we have been working intensively on the idea of transferring an immersive mix for loudspeakers into a binaural headphone format. The Brandenburg Labs system is the first to deliver truly convincing results.​"
Rainer Maillard​
Rainer Maillard​CEO, sound engineer & producer at Emil Berliner Studios. Worldwide supervision of music production ​
"After trying Brandenburg Labs' new spatially-aware headphone tracking demo for virtual acoustics, I can say that: It's the real deal, folks. Easy to imagine major VR gaming platforms wanting to offer this capability.​"
Scott Hawley​
Scott Hawley​Professor at Belmont University Teaching audio engineers (acoustics & electronics)​
"It’s the first time that I was fully convinced that the sound moved around me on all sides - especially above/below and in front/behind have been difficult to distinguish in the past, but this team did it.​"
Albert Bozesan​
Albert Bozesan​Bestselling Writer (Audible #2), AI and Storytelling Consultant​
"Brandenburg Labs' immersive technology for audio is really exciting. I was very impressed by the demo. It's exciting to see how this technology will develop. I am looking forward to new immersive listening experiences. My tip: Try it out and test it!​"
Jochen Fasco​
Jochen Fasco​Media Expert
"Having worked on room acoustics for years, I can say that this system is unlike anything I have experienced before. It surprised me and made me question my own ears. I highly recommend it, as it won me over within minutes. It works!​"
Christian Hoppe ​
Christian Hoppe ​CEO at Hoppe-Akustik​
“The Okeanos Pro system from Brandenburg Labs is an indispensable tool for evaluating complex 3D audio content with precision and realism. As a lecturer and researcher in applied psychoacoustics, I can explain immersive sound spaces and make them tangible for students and professionals. The system’s high level of flexibility and accuracy open up new possibilities in sound design and in conveying spatial audio experiences."
Lasse Nipkow
Lasse Nipkow Expert in 3D Audio and Immersive Soundscapes

Press Coverage

“During the demonstration in Las Vegas, the headphones depicted two speakers, which were actually standing in the room. The effect was amazing: whether a piece was played over the speakers or through the headphones was practically indistinguishable.” (directly translated from German)
Heise Online
"The co-inventor of MP3 and his team impressively demonstrate how you can create the perfect three-dimensional auditory illusion with headphones." (directly translated from German)
NTV
“This technology from Brandenburg Labs is a big step forward. It’s making sound more realistic and immersive, pushing the boundaries of what we thought headphones could do.”
SoundGuys
“It is the perfect acoustic simulation of movement in the natural environment. So far, there was no such thing.” (directly translated from German)
Welt
“Brandenburg handed me a pair of wired headphones adorned by a Vive Tracker on top. I put them on, and he switched the audio from the five-channel speakers to the headphones — lo and behold, there was no difference. What Brandenburg’s team proved with the demo is that you can improve on the spatial experience by augmenting it with positional data from a VR headset.”
Tom's Guide
"This is the perfect sound. [...] After MP3 Karlheinz Brandenburg reinvents hearing in a room." (directly translated from German)
BILD
"But I was most impressed when I started to walk around; not only did the acoustic picture remain in place; I also could sense the subtle changes in sound due to the imaginary room geometry. In a traditional speaker setup, if you walk around the room, the tonal balance and timbre change when you move for instance past a wall or into a wider open area. I didn’t know the geometry of the particular room I was listening to, but the changes were there, and I had the distinct feeling of walking around in a real room."
audioXpress
"Sound not on the ear, but in the room." (directly translated from German)
Stereo

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